Uber and Baidu agree deal to deploy autonomous vehicles globally
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 15
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 16
Baidu and Uber have announced a strategic agreement to bring autonomous vehicles onto the Uber platform in selected global markets outside the United States and mainland China.
The partnership will see thousands of Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles deployed across Uber’s mobility network, with operations expected to begin later this year in Asia and the Middle East. Once launched, users requesting certain trips may be offered a driverless ride using one of Baidu’s vehicles.
Apollo Go, described by Baidu as the leading autonomous ride-hailing service, currently operates over 1,000 fully driverless vehicles in 15 cities including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The service has already provided more than 11 million rides to the public as of May.
The collaboration is intended to boost the supply of affordable and reliable transport options by integrating advanced self-driving systems into Uber’s network. No timeline has been confirmed for expansion beyond the initial launch regions.
Robin Li, Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Baidu, said: “We are committed to bringing the benefit of autonomous driving technology to more people in more markets, and this partnership with Uber represents a major milestone in deploying our technology on a global scale.
“We look forward to working with Uber to deliver safe and efficient autonomous mobility solutions to riders around the world."
Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, said: “This partnership brings together two of the world’s most iconic technology companies to help shape the future of mobility.
“As the world’s largest platform of its kind, spanning mobility, delivery, and freight, Uber is uniquely positioned to help AV leaders like Baidu bring their autonomous technology to the world.”
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